Mountain Biking - Need help!!

I havent bought a bike in 20 years, but want to start riding again. Nothing serious, just some roads, by the beach, and maybe some trails and parks nearby.
So, i dont need anything expensive or too professional.
I saw this bike at my local Sports Authority for $299 , and was wondering if it was good for just a beginner bike. I cannot find anything about it on the net, which is weird.
Anyone heard of this bike?
----> K2 - Cheyenne Hardtail Mountain Bike
I appreciate the help!

brian

Aw man, don't tell me K2's are being sold in Mass Merchants now!!!!

Anyways, my advice is to NOT buy a bike from a Mass Merchant. Especially for $300.

Get thee to a bike shop.

A bike shop will be able to steer you in the right direction regarding fit and what you need. Plus, a bike will be able to repair and tune your bike. ALL bikes need an initial tune up after the break in period. These are usually included with the sale of the bike at bike shops. Does Sports Authority do repairs? The one here DOESN'T.

Really, don't buy your bike from someone selling bikes one day and camping equipment then flip-flops the next.

L8R

Yeah, go to an actual bike shop. For a similar price you can get a bike that is at least as good if not better and get actual support. I would go and check out the Specialized Hardrock and Trek 4300. At least go to a real bike shop and see what they have to offer and get fit for a bike and test ride it.

thanks for the advice.
i stopped by a specialized bike shop by my house before. they had some good stuff, and the guy there said he can customize a bike for me.
but i dont wanna put too much time or money into this.
i did like how the K2 at sports authority looked and rode. it was feather light too, which i liked.
just weird how i cant find anything at all on that model K2..

brian

Could be a house brand K2 kinda deal - Sports Authority maybe bought a few thousand of a specific model that K2 would brand specifically for them? I dunno just a guess. That sort of thing is done all the time with appliances, why not bikes?

If you don't want to put the time and effort into making a informed purchse then you deserve whatever you end up with. No offence meant but that's the way it is. Of course the bike is gonne seem pretty slick if you haven't looked at them in 20 years! Imagine how nice a well thought out purchase would perform! Taking the time to find the right bike for you could be the difference between the occaisional mediocre ride to years of good times.

Aw man, don't tell me K2's are being sold in Mass Merchants now!!!!

If that's true then it would seriously sink me into a bought of depression. :(

FWIW, I have never seen anything called a Cheyenne in K2's lineup.

well, i looked at a few of the specifics on the bike..
it has...

Ritchey Handlebars
INSYNC front end suspension
SRAM 4.0 Gear shifter
Is that crap? good? bad? just ok?
thanks for all the help guys..

brian

Well, it would help if we knew what derailleurs it has.

I would suggest a specialized rockhopper like this one:

http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?LPROD_ID=24814&lsubcat_id=7599&lcat_id=7604&referpage=

But it's $100 over your price range.

I would listen to what the others are saying about going to a lbs though. If you buy from the lbs you are sure that your getting a bike that has been PROPERLY put together and tested. And most bike shops will give you free tune ups or something like that if you purchase from them.

well, i looked at a few of the specifics on the bike..
it has...

Ritchey Handlebars
INSYNC front end suspension
SRAM 4.0 Gear shifter
Is that crap? good? bad? just ok?
thanks for all the help guys..

This seems rather odd. Although you haven't listed the full specs, this doesn't match anything in K2's lineup. Also, K2 has their own line of forks which they've been putting on their official lower end bikes so I'm confused why they'd use an InSync fork. Is the bike a hardtail or dual-suspension? Can you list some of the other components and maybe what kind of frame it has? Is there a picture somewhere?

Okay... after scouring the web using Google, I found some references to the K2 Cheyenne and the K2 El Dorado. Neither of these names appear on K2's website and there seems to be some speculation that the Cheyenne is a rebadged (and possibly diluted) K2 Zed 1.0 and the El Dorado is a rebadged Zed Sport. BTW, good call on that one, ions. They're probably renamed so as to distance them from soiling K2's reputation but you would think that K2 would have had a mind to rebrand them under a different moniker as well. The Zed lineup is fairly decent but I would really only look at the higher end Zeds as I think you could do better with other brands at the pricepoints of the lower end Zeds. The frame is pretty nice however but the component mix kinda sucks, IMHO.

I would also caution against buying bikes from stores like Sports Authority since they're not a real bike shop and you won't get any of the value-add that comes with a real LBS. There are however some shops which are fairly safe that fall between an LBS and stores like Dick's and Sports Authority. I know that "real" K2 bikes are often sold at REI so if you really liked the Cheyenne, you may want to stop in at either an LBS that sells K2s or an REI and check out the Zed 1.0.

thanks for all the help again.. just some more info on the bike

frame says 6061 aluminum
and rims are all black, and say "Xrims Alex"
i mean, is bike a total ripoff at $299 ??


brian

thanks for all the help again.. just some more info on the bike

frame says 6061 aluminum
and rims are all black, and say "Xrims Alex"
i mean, is bike a total ripoff at $299 ??

Not a total ripoff but certainly not a very good deal. For around $300, you can go to a real LBS and pick up something like a Specialized HardRock. I also ran across a post from someone who picked up a Zed 2.0 (one step up from the Zed 1.0/Cheyenne) for $279 at an REI. Additionally, they will most likely offer you at least one free tuneup (a shop near me offers lifetime free tuneups on all the bikes they sell) as well as a discount on any accessories (typically up to 20%) you buy at the same time. Likewise, you can feel confident that the fitting, service, assembly and prep of your bike was done by trained mechanics. All of those above things are lacking from your typical sporting goods stores. The only exception I've found to this rule seems to be specialty outdoor stores like REI that have their own version of a bikeshop staffed with trained mechanics and knowledgable bike sales people.

seems like this bike is kinda a mix between a ZED 1.0 and a Trek 4300. It looks like it has some parts from both bikes.
I visited a local bike shop and took a look at the Specialized line of bikes they had there.
and I honestly didnt see any bikes i really liked there. There were a few that were priced good,
and slightly less expensive than the K2 i was looking at. but I just really luv how the K2 looks (Dark Blue, and all black Rims).
I know you guys are gonna call me an idiot and stupid, but i think i like that K2, and gonna just get it.
Im not a serious rider, and this bike will be awesome compared to the bikes of my friends.
I really appreciate all your guys help, and for my next bike, if i get more serious, i will be much more informed beacuse of you guys!
thanks again for all the help!!

brian

well, i emailed K2, and here is the response i got....


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian,

This is a bike that we make special for Sportmart / Garts. It is not
part of our regular line so it is not in any catalogs.


2003 Cheyenne


Updates for 2003 New Frame and upgrades parts to Shimano
Altus and Acera Easy Fire shifters
Frame K2 Zed Sport ATB, plain gauge 6000 series aluminum,
w/replaceable hanger
Fork Noleen ATS Sport Suspension fork with alloy crown and
steel legs.
Front Derailleur Shimano Altus
Rear Derailleur Shimano Altus
Shifters Shinano Acera EZ-Fire 8-speed
Freewheel/Cassette Shimano HG50-8i 11-30t 8speed cassette
Chainwheel SR Suntour XCC-150 170mm, 44/34/24t rings
Chain KMC Z-51
Bottom Bracket cartridge
Rim Alex Y2000 alloy 36h
Rear Hub Joy Tech alloy 36h QR, black
Front Hub Joy Tech alloy 36h QR, black
Spoke 14g stainless steel, black
Tires IRC 26x1.95 all-black knobby
Brake levers alloy lever & clamp, black sandblast anodized
Brakes Tektro forged alloy liner-spring, black anodized
Headset Ritchey ST 1-1/8"
Stem alloy 25deg 1-1/8", black sandblast anodized
Handle bar butted alloy 30mm rise, black sandblast anodized

Grips K2
Seat Clamp alloy clamp with QR, black anodized sandblast
Seat Post K2 alloy micro adjust, black anodized sandblast
Saddle WTB SST. X duo-tone cover
Pedals resin toe-clip attachable
Extras Cateye reflectors, K2 owner's manual

For $329 you can get a Specialize Hardrock Sport from a bike shop, that is spec'd better than that thing. Not to mention the warranty, proper build and free support that comes with buying at a bike shop.

For $329 you can get a Specialize Hardrock Sport from a bike shop, that is spec'd better than that thing. Not to mention the warranty, proper build and free support that comes with buying at a bike shop.

Agreed, probably even for $299 though.

Also, you said the bike had SRAM shifters and an Insync fork. That is a bit different than what K2 says. Something you might want to look into.

Agreed, probably even for $299 though.

Also, you said the bike had SRAM shifters and an Insync fork. That is a bit different than what K2 says. Something you might want to look into.


yea, i dunno where they got that description from, im looking at the actual bike, and it definately says SRAM 4.0 , and INSYNC Grind..

yea, i dunno where they got that description from, im looking at the actual bike, and it definately says SRAM 4.0 , and INSYNC Grind..

Does that mean you already bought it?

I was pretty sure that's what the deal was - quite often these models appear due to overstock of certain parts and are Frankensteined together so that could explain the different components between what is at the store and what K2 says is on them - anything that's abundantly in stock and cheap is usually what ends up on this sort of item.

If you bought it already: enjoy!
If you haven't: keep looking!

jmo

If you bought it already: enjoy!
If you haven't: keep looking!

jmo

thanks ions! yea , i bought it. i just really really like how it looks and feels, and i dont think the parts on it are total crap, so to me (who will prolly ride it like once or twice a week for now), it was worth it.
I appreciate everyones help, and i must say this is one of the best and most helpful forums i have visited.
thanks guys!

b

DUDE, PICTURES!!!!

Am I the only one who reminds new forum members about the "unwritten rule" around here?

We like muddy ones best. Oh yeah, muddy and bloody!

Congrats!

L8R

Sorry for the late post.

I have this bike. The regular price was $299 and I got it 50% off at an Oshman's (like Sports Authority). Although the bike is not worth $300, I think it is a decent enough bike for what you were saying.

I ride road bikes and run mostly. This bike is to ride with my son once a week on the trails. I have had it for a year and have had to adjust the brakes and shifters only twice, once after a week or so and then again a year later. The price is great and I don't worry too much about doing a total lock down if I leave it unattended. Everything on this bike is 'good enough' except for the cables and the brakes which are pretty lame in my opinion. It looks like it does have welded brackets for disc brakes, though.

My advice is to buy this bike when you see it on sale or buy a low end Specialized or Gary Fisher.

Time to remove my K2 stickers from my Xterra, huh? Damnit.

Time to remove my K2 stickers from my Xterra, huh? Damnit.

I wouldn't bag on K2 that much. They're still a good company. Plenty of bike-related manufacturers sell diluted products through the big-box dept. stores. Look at Bell or Topeak or... well... Shimano.

a local bike store near me (agees) for $299has a GT that has high tensil steel frame,rst front fork,wire bead tires,no name deraillers,etc. etc. so even some bike shops are getting in on the cheapo rides so we cannot just assume that if its from a lbs its a better value any more